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Just hours before the new year began, Katie Boulter entered the RAC Arena in Perth with a strong determination to make an impact at the beginning of the season. Despite initially falling behind to Jessica Pegula, the fifth-ranked player in the world, Boulter skillfully turned the match around with a combination of maturity and controlled aggression, securing the most important victory of her career.
In May, she was ranked below the top 150 and had difficulty staying healthy while struggling to perform her best tennis on the lower-ranked ITF Tour. However, by the end of the season, the 27-year-old had climbed into the top 50 and won her first WTA title. She is currently ranked at No. 57 and is gaining a reputation as a formidable opponent for many of the top players.
Furthermore, Boulter is aware that she still has much potential for growth. As she enters the new season, she is feeling confident and not satisfied with her previous achievements. In the first round of the Australian Open, she will face a challenging opponent in Yuan Yue, who was a semi-finalist in Hobart last week. However, Boulter has proven her ability to win such matches.
“I had a lot of successful matches in the previous year,” she stated. “I faced many opponents who may not have had the highest rankings, but I was determined to showcase my skills on all surfaces against every player, and establish myself as a top-hundred player.”
“I’ve never made it a personal goal. Being in the top 100 was never my aim. I achieved that five years ago, so it’s not something I’m actively pursuing. However, I am determined to keep improving and pushing myself. I also reached the top 50, which was another accomplishment. Now, I’m focused on the more competitive and serious aspect of tennis.”
Boulter’s positive attitude is also seen among other British players in Melbourne. The singles draws have a strong presence of British players, which has not been seen in a while.
In the previous year, Emma Raducanu’s injuries caused her ranking to drop, leaving no British woman with a high enough rank to compete in the main draw. However, this year there are three women motivating each other. While Raducanu works to make a comeback, Jodie Burrage aims to solidify her position among the top players after achieving a top 100 ranking last year.
After reaching a peak ranking of 85, the 24-year-old has dropped to 102 and must continue to improve in order to make the transition from the ITF Tour to consistently competing at the top level.
At one point, the second highest ranked British male tennis player after Andy Murray was not even in the top 100. However, there are currently four men ranked within the top 50 who have a good chance of making it to the second week of grand slam tournaments.
Despite facing numerous injuries, Jack Draper has been steadily climbing the rankings and is now a formidable opponent. The 22-year-old has had a strong start to the year, making it to the final of the Adelaide International after ending 2023 on a high note. It is evident that Draper possesses a powerful and well-rounded game that can challenge top players. Should he successfully navigate a quick turnaround and defeat Marcos Giron in the first round, he may face another American, Tommy Paul, in the second round.
Although he struggled at the end of the previous season, Murray has maintained a very optimistic attitude in Australia. The 36-year-old has expressed the importance of finding more enjoyment and controlling his frustration.
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There are also injury questions surrounding the top men. After a tricky second half to 2023, Cameron Norrie ended the year with a strong win over Alex de Minaur in the United Cup and said he feels mentally refreshed. In Auckland, though, the 28-year-old was forced to withdraw before his second‑round match because of a wrist injury. It remains unclear if he has had enough time to recover.
Dan Evans suffered a calf injury last year that ended his season, and he is currently in the process of recovering from it. The 33-year-old may have a challenging second-round match against Carlos Alcaraz.
“I am confident that I can win my first round,” Evans stated regarding his match against Lorenzo Sonego. “The determining factors will be how well my body holds up and how quickly it can recover. Last week, I was experiencing some soreness. I have not been able to practice and train as much as I would prefer. However, even with ample practice, there are no guarantees of winning, especially when facing a skilled opponent like Alcaraz.”
Despite the initial difficulties, it is evident that Britain now boasts a formidable presence in both tours, with multiple players who are able to defeat top competitors and achieve significant accomplishments. Through their regular training sessions and individual achievements, they are motivating each other to reach new heights. It remains to be seen how far they will progress.
Source: theguardian.com
